DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING FOREIGN OBJECTS FROM A MASS OF COINS

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for separating foreign objects from a mass of coins between a coin intake and a coin lifting device in a coin sorting and/or counting machine.

Description of the prior art

[0002] Today, a plurality of devices are known for coin sorting and/or counting. Such devices or machines are usually provided with a coin intake and a coin lifting device (such as a hopper), wherein the coin intake is arranged to receive an incoming mass of coins and to supply this mass of coins to the coin lifting device, which establishes some sort of order among the coins in the mass, such as a sequential order, so that the coins one after another may be supplied at a proper speed to a subsequent sorting and/or counting process.

[0003] A coin sorting device of this kind is disclosed in US-A-5 163 868.

[0004] US-A-2 646 805 relates to an article sorting device, comprising a generally conical drum mounted for rotation on an inclined axis. The drum is perforated and comprises a generally spiral cross-section and a baffle strip interposed between juxtaposed portions thereof. The baffle strip winds helically about the axis, and when the drum is rotated in one direction, the articles are carried towards one end of the drum. A similar device is disclosed in US-A-3 196 887.

[0005] Recently, such coin sorting machines and coin counting machines, which are intended to be used directly by the customers in accordance with a self-service approach, have been increasingly common. Such self-service coin handling machines may be located in for instance bank offices to be used by any customer who wants to cash or deposit an unsorted mass of coins. For instance, a businessman may want to deposit his daily earnings, or a private person may bring his savings. The customer in question will deposit the mass of coins in a coin intake, and then the coin handling machine will sort and count the coins received and acknowledge the amount received by means of for instance a written verification, on which the counted amount is specified.

[0006] A problem with self-service coin handling machines of the type described above, which has been obsersed by the inventors of the present invention, is the damage or reduced performance that foreign objects in a mass of coins may cause. Previously known coin handling machines are usually provided with a separating function, wherein any coin not accepted due to e.g. an incorrect currency, deformation of the coin or the like, is separated from the rest of the coins and is returned to the customer, or is confiscated by the machine as an alternative. The problem gets worse if the coin mass contains such foreign objects, which as to their shape, size or the like are considerably different from coins acceptable to the machine. Examples of such foreign objects are paper clips, safety-pins, screws, nuts, hair pins, pocket fluff, etc. If such foreign objects are deposited in a coin handling machine, the risk of damage to mechanical or electrical components in the machine is not negligible.

[0007] Furthermore, if the mass of coins is deposited by the customer into the coin intake in such volumes or at such a speed that the coin handling machine will not be capable of processing the coin mass but will rather be over-filled, additional problems will arise.

Summary of the invention

[0008] According to the invention a device and a method have been developed to eliminate or reduce the above-mentioned problems, when a mass of coins with inappropriate contents or of an inappropriate volume is supplied by a customer to a coin handling machine.

[0009] The object of the invention is achieved by a device and a method for separating foreign objects from a mass of coins between a coin intake and a coin lifting device in a coin sorting and/or counting machine with the features of the characterising part of the appended independent patent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

[0010] The invention will be described in more detail in the following, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG 1 is a partly fractioned side view of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG 2 is a partly exploded perspective view of the device according to FIG 1,

FIGs 3 and 4 illustrate alternative embodiments of an insert element used in the device,

FIG 5 is a perspective view of a device according to an alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG 6 is a side view of the device according to FIG 5, and

FIG 7 is an exploded perspective view of the device according to FIGs 5 and 6.

Detailed description of the invention

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGs 1-4.

[0012] The device comprises a coin intake 10, suspension means 11,12, a drum 13 with perforations 14, a driving device 15 with a driving belt 16 belonging thereto, a collecting vessel 17, and a drum insert 18. The device is arranged to be mounted by means of the suspension means 11,12 between the coin intake and a coin lifting device in a coin sorting and/or counting machine. The drum 13 is open at its respective ends, is connected at its first end to the coin intake 10, which in turn is connected to the coin intake in the coin sorting and/or counting machine, and is connected at its second end to the coin lifting device in said machine. The drum 13, having a substantially circular cross section, is preferably made of e.g. metal or plastics and is according to the preferred embodiment horizontally arranged, but may as an alternative be arranged at a certain downward or upward inclination.

[0013] An insert element 18 is arranged inside the drum 13, as indicated in FIG 1. In the exploded view according to FIG 2 the insert element 18 is illustrated as being withdrawn from the drum 13, for reasons of clarity. Essentially, the insert element 18 has the shape of a so called Archimedes screw, which in essence may be described as a series of interconnected and substantially circular discs, each of said discs being cut along the main portion of its diameter with a minor portion of each circle diameter being left uncut in order to keep the two circle halves together.

[0014] According to FIG 2 one circle half of each circle is vertically arranged (i.e. arranged in the radial direction of the drum 13), while the second circle half is arranged at a certain angle with respect to the first circle half. Each vertical circle half is connected at its first end to the subsequent angled circle half and at its second end to the preceding angled circle half. The same is true for the angled circle halves with respect to the vertical ones, with the exception, of course, of the outermost circle halves at the respective ends of the insert element 18. Depending on the distance discussed below between two vertical circle halves the angled half has a substantially circular shape (a short distance), or an elliptic shape (a longer distance), respectively.

[0015] Preferably, the insert element 18 is manufactured of a relatively thin metal plate, and the insert element is firmly mounted on the inside of the drum 13 by for instance soldering or welding.

[0016] As a consequence of the arrangement described above a number of cells or segments are formed by the insert element 18, each segment consisting of two vertical circle halves and an intermediate angled half (or, equivalently, two angled halves and an intermediate vertical half). As a result, when the drum 13 is rotated, a mass of coins deposited through the coin intake 10 is transported through the drum 13 thanks to the helical movement being performed by the insert element 18. However, during half of the revolution of the drum 13 and the insert element 18 the mass of coins is tumbled "on the spot" (i.e., substantially without movement in the transport direction), since one of the circle halves is vertically arranged, thereby blocking the mass of coins. This fact has the important effect of giving foreign objects - particularly elongated objects - an increased opportunity to arrange themselves in a direction suitable for separation through the perforations 14 of the drum 13, i.e. a radial direction with respect to the drum, and this effect will be described in more detail below.

[0017] The number of segments is important for several reasons. The more segments dividing an insert element of a certain length, the better the separation becomes of foreign objects, since these objects are exposed to more tumblings and are hence given a better opportunity to be separated. On the other hand, the transport velocity in the axial direction of the drum is decreased when the number of segments is increased. Furthermore, the distance between two subsequent vertical circle halves should be slightly longer than the diameter of the largest coin appearing in the coin system in question in order to avoid the risk of such a coin getting stuck. Trials have shown, that a distance of 45 mm between two vertical circle halves combined with four segments according to FIG 2, gives a very high probability of separation for the preferred embodiment of the invention, without the transport velocity decreasing to an unacceptably low level.

[0018] In FIG 3 there is shown an alternative design 19 of the insert element. In essence, the only difference compared to the insert element 18 described above is that here, both of the circle or ellipse halves are angled to the same extent with respect to the radial direction of the drum. Such a design provides a smoother transport, since the mass of coins is now transported forward during the entire revolution of the drum. On the other hand, there is a loss to a certain extent of the tumbling effect which is periodically achieved according to the previous embodiment, and hence, the first embodiment 18 is currently regarded as the most suitable design to be used in the device according to the preferred embodiment, and this is true also from a manufacturing point of view.

[0019] In FIG 4 yet another embodiment 20 of the insert element is illustrated. Here, the insert element is helically formed from a wire- or strip-shaped element of for instance metal. However, the function is essentially the same as with the alternative 19 according to FIG 3.

[0020] The insert element 18 according to FIG 2 as well as the insert element 19 according to FIG 3 may be provided with fine perforations in order to avoid adhesion of wet coins or foreign objects to the surfaces of the insert element due to capillary forces.

[0021] Preferably, the drum perforations 14 are formed as round holes, the diameter of which is chosen to be slightly smaller than the smallest coin size acceptable to the coin handling machine in question.

[0022] As a driving device 15 preferably any previously known simple electrical motor is used, which is capable of driving the drum through the driving belt 16 in rotation around its longitudinal axis. The driving device 15 is responsive to a control signal for setting the rotational speed of the drum.

[0023] The operation and the function of the device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described.

[0024] A mass of coins, which may be unsorted and may contain foreign objects, is deposited by a customer into a coin intake in a machine for sorting and/or counting the coins in said mass of coins. The coin intake is connected to the intake 10, the mass of coins thereby being supplied to the drum 13 through the intake 10. Through the rotation of the drum 13 by means of the driving device 15 the mass of coins is transported in a way described below through the drum from the coin intake to the coin lifting device, which then forwards the coins to subsequent sorting and counting processes. Any foreign objects present in the mass of coins are separated during the transport in the drum through the drum perforations 14, and these objects are collected in the collecting vessel 17.

[0025] Foreign objects with an elongated shape, such as paper clips, hair pins, screws, etc, and with a length that exceeds the diameter of the perforations must be given a radial direction with respect to the cross section of the drum in order to be able to pass through the drum perforations, and hence the insert element 18 has been given its design as described above. In combination with the rotation of the drum the insert element exposes the transported mass of coins to a tumbling movement. Thus, the elongated foreign objects in the mass of coins are together with the rest of the objects given a constantly varying direction thanks to the tumbling during the transport through the drum. Sooner or later during this transport such an elongated foreign object will get a radial direction with respect to the cross section of the drum and will hence pass through the nearest perforation 14. "Valid" coins, which are accepted by the coin counting and sorting machine, can never be filtered out through the perforations, since the diameter of all such coins is larger than the diameter chosen for the perforations.

[0026] An important parameter when it comes to designing the device according to the invention is the length of the drum 13. More specifically, if the drum is too short, all foreign objects will not have the time to be separated during the transport through the drum. On the other hand, the drum may not be arbitrarily long, since the device should preferably fit inside a coin sorting and counting machine.

[0027] The diameter of the perforations is, as described above, also important, and so is the rotational speed of the drum.

[0028] A suitable perforation diameter is 13-16 mm for the preferred embodiment of the invention, but other values may also be appropriate.

[0029] An alternative embodiment of the device according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG 5-7.

[0030] In similarity to the above the device comprises a coin intake 30, suspension means 31, 32, a drum 33 with perforations 34 and a driving device 35. Even if this embodiment exhibits design differences as compared to the previously described preferred embodiment, the parts specified above according to FIGs 5-7 all have essentially the same function as the corresponding parts according to FIGs 1-4, and hence these parts are not described in more detail here.

[0031] One thing that differs, however, is that the drum 33 is now arranged in a downward slope towards the coin lifting device for reasons obvious from the following.

[0032] In FIG 6, reference numeral 39 indicates the drum angle with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0033] A number of carrier rails 38 are mounted on the inner wall of the drum 33, essentially in the axial direction of the drum. These rails, which preferably are made of metal or plastics, are preferably arranged with a certain displacement in relation to each other in the axial direction of the drum, and they are bent at an obtuse angle at the end pointing away from the coin intake. A suggested design of the carrier rails 38 is illustrated more clearly in FIG 7.

[0034] Hence, the carrier rails 38 have replaced the insert element 18; 19; 20 described above, and an advantage with this approach is that the rails may be manufactured at a very low cost. The purpose of the rails is to expose the mass of coins to a tumbling force when the drum 33 is rotated and to contribute to the transport of the mass of coins through the drum. Thanks to the downward slope of the drum according to the above the transport of the mass of coins is facilitated. In order to prevent elongated foreign objects in particular to pass through the entire drum 33 without being separeted, the rails 38 are as described above bent at the far end pointing towards the coin lifting device, thereby aiming at giving such foreign objects a direction suitable for separation through any of the perforations 34.

[0035] As an alternative to this embodiment the inner wall of the drum is additionally provided with a number of members, not shown in the figures, which are formed as pins or edges protruding in an essentially radial direction. These members also help in giving elongated foreign objects an orientation which is mainly orthogonal to the axial direction of the drum, thereby facilitating separation through the perforations.

[0036] An important parameter of the embodiment is the drum inclination or angle 39 with respect to the horizontal plane. If the inclination is too steep, the mass of coins will be transported too quickly through the drum, thereby not letting all foreign objects to be separated. If the inclination is too small, difficulties arise when it comes to transporting the mass of coins. In practice, an angle of. inclination of about 10-15 degrees has proved suitable.

[0037] The driving device 15; 35 according to either of the embodiments described above is responsive to an external control signal for setting the rotational speed of the drum. Preferably, this external control signal is generated by a sensor in the coin lifting device, the control signal thereby having a nominal value, when the flow of coins into the coin lifting device - or, alternatively, the coin level in the device - lies within the limits of a successful handling of the coins for the coin lifting device and subsequent sorting and counting processes. In response to this nominal value of the control signal the driving means will drive the drum at a predetermined rotational speed according to the above, thereby obtaining a certain speed of coin flow. When the flow of coins reaches such a previously determined level, where the coin lifting device or any subsequent sorting and counting process is no longer able to handle all incoming coins successfully, but is rather risking to reach an over-filled condition, the control signal is given another value, wherein the driving device will detect the changed control signal and lower the rotational speed of the drum. As a consequence the coin flow speed will decrease, and the coin lifting device will be able to handle the superfluity of coins at the coin lifting device. When the level of coins in the coin lifting device returns below a predetermined level, the control signal is given its nominal value, the drum thereby returning to its normal rotational speed.

[0038] As an alternative, a sensor may be provided for measuring the drum speed. This sensor is operatively connected to a control unit capable of monitoring the momentary speed as detected by the sensor, thereby detecting an over-full or packed drum condition, since the speed will then have decreased below a predetermined value. When this is the case, a control signal is supplied to the driving device 15; 35 for adjusting the rotational speed in a way similar to the one described above.

[0039] Hence, in this aspect, the device according to the invention has a function as a protection against overfilling or a buffer receptacle. Within the scope of the invention the reduction described above of the rotational speed may be carried out in several steps, wherein the control signal may be given a corresponding number of different values. Furthermore, the rotational speed may be reduced to a zero value, wherein the drum does not move, or to a negative value, wherein the drum is rotating in an opposite direction as compared to the normal direction. This is especially suitable to remedy such situations, wherein elongated objects are in some way stuck in the drum, thereby obstructing the flow of coins.

[0040] According to yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, the drum is manufactured with an essentially polygonal cross section, such as a square shape or a hexagonal shape. Thanks to the angularity of this cross section a mass of coins being transported through the rotating drum will be exposed to a tumbling force similar to the one described above for the embodiment according to FIGs 5-7. With a polygonal cross section of the drum the need for separately mounted carrier rails 38 is consequently eliminated or reduced. The rest of the device according to this embodiment is essentially designed in accordance with the embodiments described above.

Claims

1. A device for separating foreign objects from a mass of coins between a coin intake and a coin lifting device in a coin sorting and/or counting machine, the device comprising: a perforated drum (13; 33), which is arranged to rotate around a longitudinal axis, is open at its respective ends, and is connected to the coin intake at a first end and to the coin lifting device at a second end; and a driving device (15, 16; 35) for rotating the drum, characterized by a drum insert (18; 38) mounted internally in said drum and having a first portion adapted to urge said mass of coins in an essentially longitudinal direction of said drum towards said second end, and a second portion adapted to urge said foreign objects in a radial direction of said drum, so as to allow exit of said foreign objects through the perforation of said drum.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of the drum insert (18; 38) comprises at least a first essentially semicircular or semielliptical flat member, and wherein said second portion of the drum insert comprises at least a second essentially semicircular or semielliptical flat member, the first and second members being connected to each other at an angle.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drum insert (18; 19; 20) is helically formed on the inner wall of the drum (13).

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the drum insert (18; 19) extends through a major part of the drum (13) along its longitudinal axis, the drum insert (18; 19) thereby together with the drum (13) forming an Archimedes screw.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein the drum insert (20) is strip- or wire-shaped.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the drum insert comprises at least one elongated carrier rail (38) formed on an inner surface of the drum (33), said rail having a first portion, which is parallel to said longitudinal direction of the drum, and a second portion, which is arranged in an obtuse angle with respect to the first portion of the carrier rail.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said carrier rail (38) is bent at an obtuse angle at an end pointing away from the coin intake.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the drum insert comprises a plurality of carrier rails (38), which are displaced with respect to each other in said longitudinal direction of the drum (33).

9. A device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a number of essentially radially protuding pins or edges formed on the inner wall of the drum (13; 33).

10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the drum (13; 33) is arranged at an angle (39) with respect to the horizontal plane in a downward slope towards the coin lifting device.

11. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the drum (13; 33) has a substantially circular cross section.

12. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the drum (13; 33) has a substantially polygonal cross section.

13. A method for separating foreign objects from a mass of coins in a coin sorting and/or counting machine, characterized by the steps of

providing a drum (13; 33) having a first open end, a second open end and a plurality of perforations (14),

arranging said drum between a coin intake and a coin lifting device in said coin sorting and/or counting machine, so that said first open end of the drum is coupled to the coin intake and said second open end is coupled to said coin lifting device;

providing a drum insert (18; 19; 20; 38) mounted to an inner surface of said drum;

receiving the mass of coins, together with any foreign objects, at said first open end of the drum;

rotating the drum around a longitudinal axis thereof;

successively transporting the mass of coins towards said second open end of the drum;

exposing the mass of coins and the foreign objects to a tumbling force caused by the rotation of the drum as well as by the drum insert, wherein said foreign objects are separated through the perforations of the drum; and

receiving said mass of coins at said second open end of the drum.

14. A method according to claim 13, further having the additional steps of

obtaining information about the amount of coins in the coin lifting device arranged at the second open end of the drum (13; 33) and/or information about the rotational speed of the drum, and

controlling the rotational speed of the drum and/or the rotational direction of the drum in response to said information.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zum Trennen von fremden Gegenständen aus einer Münzenmenge zwischen einem Münzeneinlaß und einer Münzenhebevorrichtung in einer Münzensortierund/oder Zählmaschine, wobei die Vorrichtung umfaßt:

eine perforierte Trommel (13; 33), die drehbar um eine Längsachse angeordnet ist, an ihren entsprechenden Enden offen ist und an ihrem ersten Ende mit dem Münzeneinlaß und an ihrem zweiten Ende mit der Münzenhebevorrichtung verbunden ist;

und einer Antriebsvorrichtung (15, 16; 35) zum Drehen der Trommel,

gekennzeichnet, durch
einen Trommeleinsatz (18; 38), der innerhalb der Trommel befestigt ist und einen ersten Bereich, der zum Bewegen der Münzenmenge im wesentlichen in Längsrichtung der Trommel zum zweiten Ende vorgesehen ist, und einen zweiten Bereich, der zum Bewegen der fremden Gegenstände in einer radialen Richtung der Trommel vorgesehen ist, so daß die Fremdkörper durch die Perforation der Trommel austreten können, aufweist.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, worin der erste Bereich des Trommeleinsatzes (18; 38) wenigstens ein erstes im wesentlichen halbkreis- oder halbellipsenförmiges, flaches Element aufweist, und worin der zweite Bereich des Trommeleinsatzes wenigstens ein zweites, im wesentlichen halbkreis- oder halbellipsenförmiges, flachse Element umfaßt, wobei das erste und das zweite Element in einem Winkel miteinander verbunden sind.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, worin der Trommeleinsatz (18; 19; 20) wendelförmig an der Innenwand der Trommel (13) ausgebildet ist.

4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, worin sich der Trommeleinsatz (18; 19) durch einen Großteil der Trommel (13) entlang ihrer Längsachse erstreckt, wobei der Trommeleinsatz (18; 19) zusammen mit der Trommel (13) eine Archimedes-Schraube bildet.

5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, worin der Trommeleinsatz (20) streifen- oder drahtförmig ausgebildet ist.

6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, worin der Trommeleinsatz wenigstens eine längliche Tragschiene (38), die an der Innenfläche der Trommel (33) ausgebildet ist, umfaßt, wobei die Schiene einen ersten Abschnitt, der parallel zur Längsrichtung der Trommel angeordnet ist, und einen zweiten Abschnitt, der in einem stumpfen Winkel hinsichtlich des ersten Bereiches der Trägerschiene angeordnet ist, umfaßt.

7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, worin die Trägerschiene (38) an einem Ende in einem stumpfen Winkel gebogen ist und von dem Münzeneinlaß weg weist.

8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, worin der Trommeleinsatz eine Mehrzahl von Führungsschienen (38) umfaßt, die in Längsrichtung der Trommel (33) zueinander versetzt angeordnet sind.

9. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die ferner eine Anzahl von im wesentlichen radial vorstehenden Stiften oder Kanten aufweist, die an der Innenwand der Trommel (13; 33) ausgebildet sind.

10. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin die Trommel (13; 33) in einem Winkel zur horizontalen Ebene schräg abwärts in Richtung der Münzenhebevorrichtung angeordnet ist.

11. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin die Trommel (13; 33) einen im wesentlichen kreisförmigen Querschnitt aufweist.

12. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin die Trommel (13; 33) einen im wesentlichen polygonalen Querschnitt aufweist.

13. Verfahren zum Trennen von Fremdkörpern von einer Münzenmenge in einer Münzensortier- und/oder Zählmaschine, das durch folgende Schritte gekennzeichnet ist;

Vorsehen einer Trommel (13; 33) mit einem ersten offenen Ende, einem zweiten offenen Ende und einer Mehrzahl von Perforationen (14);

Anordnen der Trommel zwischen einem Münzeneinlaß und einer Münzenhebevorrichtung in der Münzensortierund/oder Zählmaschine, so daß das erste offene Ende der Trommel mit dem Münzeneinlaß und das zweite offene Ende mit der Münzenhebevorrichtung verbunden ist;

Vorsehen eines Trommeleinsatzes (18; 19; 20; 38), der an der Innenfläche der Trommel befestigt ist;

Aufnahme der Münzenmenge zusammen mit den fremden Gegenständen am ersten offenen Ende der Trommel;

Drehen der Trommel um ihre Längsachse;

Transport der Münzenmenge nach und nach in Richtung des zweiten offenen Endes der Trommel;

Ausüben einer durch Rotation der Trommel sowie durch den Trommeleinlaß erzeugten Trommelkraft auf die Münzenmenge und die fremden Gegenstände, wobei die fremden Gegenstände durch die Perforationen der Trommel ausgesondert werden; und

Aufnahme der Münzenmenge an dem zweiten offenen Ende der Trommel.

14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13, das die folgenden weiteren Schritte aufweist:

Erheben von Informationen über die Menge der Münzen in der Münzenhebevorrichtung, die an dem zweiten offenen Ende der Trommel (13; 33) angeordnet ist, und/oder von Informationen über die Drehgeschwindigkeit der Tromeel, und

Steuern der Drehgeschwindigkeit der Trommel und/oder der Drehrichtung der Trommel entsprechend dieser Informationen.

Revendications

1. Dispositif pour séparer des corps étrangers d'une masse de pièces de monnaie entre une admission de pièces et un dispositif de levage de pièces dans une machine de tri et/ou de comptage de pièces, le dispositif comprenant : un tambour perforé (13; 33), qui est agencé de manière à tourner autour d'un axe longitudinal, est ouvert à ses extrémités respectives et est relié à l'admission de pièces à une première extrémité et au dispositif de levage de pièces à une deuxième extrémité ; et un dispositif d'entraînement (15, 16 ; 35) pour faire tourner le tambour, caractérisé par un insert de tambour (18 ; 38) monté à l'intérieur dudit tambour et comportant une première partie adaptée pour pousser ladite masse de pièces dans une direction essentiellement longitudinale dudit tambour vers ladite deuxième extrémité et une deuxième partie adaptée pour pousser lesdits corps étrangers dans une direction radiale dudit tambour, de manière à permettre la sortie desdits corps étrangers à travers les perforations dudit tambour.

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite première partie de l'insert de tambour (18 ; 38) comprend au moins un premier élément plat essentiellement semi-circulaire ou semi-elliptique, et dans lequel ladite deuxième partie de l'insert de tambour comprend au moins un deuxième élément plat essentiellement semi-circulaire ou semi-elliptique, les premier et deuxième éléments étant reliés l'un à l'autre selon un certain angle.

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel l'insert de tambour (18 ; 19 ; 20) est formé de manière hélicoïdale sur la paroi intérieure du tambour (13).

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, dans lequel l'insert de tambour (18 ; 19) s'étend à travers une majeure partie du tambour (13) le long de son axe longitudinal, l'insert de tambour (18 ; 19) formant de ce fait, avec le tambour (13), une vis d'Archimède.

5. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, dans lequel l'insert de tambour (20) est en forme de bande ou de fil.

6. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'insert de tambour comprend au moins un rail de support allongé (38) formé sur une surface intérieure du tambour (33), ledit rail comportant une première partie qui est parallèle à ladite direction longitudinale du tambour et une deuxième partie qui est agencée selon un angle obtus par rapport à la première partie du rail de support.

7. Dispositif selon la revendication 6, dans lequel ledit rail de support (38) est courbé selon un angle obtus à une extrémité opposée à l'admission de pièces.

8. Dispositif selon la revendication 6, dans lequel l'insert de tambour comprend une pluralité de rails de support (38) qui sont déplacés les uns par rapport aux autres dans ladite direction longitudinale du tambour (33).

9. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un certain nombre de broches ou d'arêtes s'étendant essentiellement radialement formées sur la paroi intérieure du tambour (13 ; 33).

10. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le tambour (13 ; 33) est agencé selon un certain angle (39) par rapport au plan horizontal avec une pente vers le bas vers le dispositif de levage de pièces.

11. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le tambour (13 ; 33) a une section sensiblement circulaire.

12. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le tambour (13 ; 33) a une section sensiblement polygonale.

13. Procédé pour séparer des corps étrangers d'une masse de pièces dans une machine de tri et/ou de comptage de pièces, caractérisé par les étapes consistant à :

prévoir un tambour (13 ; 33) comportant une première extrémité ouverte, une deuxième extrémité ouverte et une pluralité de perforations (14) ;

agencer ledit tambour entre une admission de pièces et un dispositif de levage de pièces dans ladite machine de tri et/ou de comptage de pièces, de sorte que ladite première extrémité ouverte du tambour soit couplée à l'admission de pièces et que ladite deuxième extrémité ouverte soit couplée audit dispositif de levage de pièces ;

prévoir un insert de tambour (18 ; 19 ; 20 ; 38) monté sur une surface intérieure dudit tambour ;

recevoir la masse de pièces, en même temps que les corps étrangers, au niveau de ladite première extrémité ouverte du tambour ;

faire tourner le tambour autour de son axe longitudinal ;

transporter successivement la masse de pièces vers ladite deuxième extrémité ouverte du tambour ;

exposer la masse de pièces et les corps étrangers à une force de culbutage provoquée par la rotation du tambour ainsi que par l'insert de tambour, dans lequel lesdits corps étrangers sont séparés par l'intermédiaire des perforations du tambour ; et

recevoir ladite masse de pièces au niveau de ladite deuxième extrémité ouverte du tambour.

14. Procédé selon la revendication 13, comprenant en outre les étapes supplémentaires consistant à :

obtenir des informations concernant la quantité de pièces dans le dispositif de levage de pièces agencé au niveau de la deuxième extrémité ouverte du tambour (13 ; 33) et/ou des informations concernant la vitesse de rotation du tambour ; et

commander la vitesse de rotation du tambour et/ou la direction de rotation du tambour en fonction desdites informations.

Drawing